Assiohob



e. E. KARL;

LAND ROLLER.

APPLICATIDH FILED JUNE I7. I915.

3 e m \l xmmm GEORGE E. KARL, OF BEREA, OHIO, ASSIGN'OR TO THE DURHAM COMPANY, OF 'BEBEA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LAND-ROLLER.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon E. KARL, a

citizen of the Uni-ted States, resident of.

Berea, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Land-Rollers, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in WhlOll I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distingmsh it from other inventions.

My invention relates to land rollers, its object beingto construct a roller drum in an economical manner and which will perform its functions efliciently.

A specific object of the invention is to impart to the ends of the roller a form such as will not leave markedimpressions upon the soil or lawn to which the roller is ap-' plied.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with what is known as a water roller'which includes a drum of water-tight construction.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but some of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 represents an axial section of a rollerdrum embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a detail fragmentary axial section taken upon an enlarged scale and showing the parts in a position which "is imparted thereto during the course of the drums construction. 7

Fig. 3'represents asection similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the parts in their finished form. v

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary axial section of a modified form showing the parts in a position which is imparted to them during the course of construction of the drum.

F ig. 5 represents a section s1m1lar to that of Fig. 4 and showing the parts of such modified form in a still further advanced stage of construction. "Fig. 6 represents a view similar to thatof Fig. 4 and showing the parts in their completed form. Fig. 7 represents a simllar axial fragmentary section and showing a completed further modified form of my invention.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises an outer cylindrical sheet or shell 1 which is suitably butt-welded or otherwise joined to form a substantially smooth and continuous surface; two end heads 2, 2, respectively secured in the ends of said shell and formed with outwardly extending flanges 3 which are uni-ted with the shell to form a water-tight joint; and a central hollow tube 4 adapted to receive .the shaft or axle (not shown) upon which the drum is mounted to be drawn or trundled, said tube having its ends respectively secured in openlngs 5, 5, in the heads and also in a manner such as to form awater-tight oint preferably by welding, and this further strengthens the structure. This general structure does not form a. part of my present invention which is confined to the manner of joining the outer ends of the flanges of the heads to the shell.

In effecting the union of such shell and each of the flanges, the heads are inset in the shell, as shown in Fig. 2, a suitable distance, and the flanges then secured to the shell at suitable points 6 by spot or autogenous welding. The projecting end portions of the shell are then turned downwardly and lnwardly so as tocome into shell form the water-tight union between the flange and said shell.

It will be noted therefore that the ends of the drum have a marked curvature, such curvature coinciding substantially with a continuous weld formed at the ends of the semi-circle Whose diameter 1s equal to three times the thickness of the shell, the thickness of the flange and shell being usually made substantially the same.

The above-described structure may be modified as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by welding the end of the flange to the adjacent inner surface of the shell, as shown at 7, be.- fore the projecting portion of the latter is bent inwardly, after which such projecting portion is bent around and into contact with the inner surface of the flange, as shown in Fig. 6. If desired, and as may sometimes be found suflicient, the parts may be left in the osition shown in 5.

In t e form shown in ig. 6, it Wlll be noted that the weld not only orms the mam union between the flanges and the shell, but also forms the water-tight joint.

In all the forms of my invention two zones of support or union between the shell and the flanges of the heads are afforded, the first zone bein afforded by the weld or joint shown at 7, igs. 4, 5, 6, and elsewhere in other figures at the end of the shell where it is turned over upon the flange; and the second zone being afforded by the surfaces of contact back of this joint, this zone being of considerable depth in all instances, whereby a considerable supportin and stifl'enmg area is afforded, the eflect 0 which may be increased by the welding spots 6. This efj nt so formed at an fective support is aided by the stifiening afforded by the central tube connecting the heads.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 7 in which the flanges and the shell are spot welded to form a main union and the end portions of the shell turned under and into contact with the flanges as before, a space 8, however, being left which is filled with suitable packing, preferably the substance known as lead wool. This packing is, of course, placed within this space prior to the bendin operation and .during the latter is proper y compressed to form the joint, a suitableamount of this packin being introduced to effect this purpose. his packing,

40 however, may be omitted if desired and a satisfactory device thereby obtained, it being possible.to compress the overlapping parts together sufliciently to effect a watertight joint. This latter construction is rendered practical for the reason that the union between the parts effected by the spot welds 6, being in a different zone, relieves the water-tight joint from strains to which it would otherwise be subjected during the o eration of the roller. Should, however, t e

time through accident become leaky, suc leak may be readily re aired by placing that portion of the joint a ected upon an anvil and peening such parts unti a required closure is effected.

It will be readilyseen that the required union of the heads and shell may be effected by the use of rivets or their equivalent, and I consider such use as the equivalent of the s ot welding, inasmuch as they would effect t e same pur ose, although by means differing onl in etail. In such event, however, it won (1 be necessary to countersink the outer ends .of the rivets in order to preserve a smootliexterior of the shell.

In this manner, it will be seen that a marked rounded or curved surface is imparted to the ends of the shell which, when the roller is performing its function, will eliminate to the greatest possible degree the formation of marks on the surface to which the roller is applied. This is particularly desirable when the roller is used for formin smooth earth surfaces such as are required in tennis courts and the like.

A further advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the welds, when they are formed on the interior of the flanges, are protected while the roller is in use, where heretofore-such weld has been placed on the extreme outer edge where it came into contact with obstructions which tended to bend the joint. Furthermore the end portions of the drum arereinforced by my invention inasmuch as, as will be noticed, there are three thicknesses of metal where heretofore but two have been employed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a lawn roller, in combination, circular heads, an outwardly turned fla e on each of said heads, a cylindrical shel surrounding said heads and in contact with said flanges at a distance from the ends of the shell, said shell and flanges being spot welded together, the ends of the shell being bent inward about the ends of the flanges and welded at the edges to said flanges, whereby there are established two zones of union between said shell and flanges, and a tube passing through and connecting said heads, at the center thereof, whereby the structure is further strengthened.

2. In a lawn roller, in combination, circular heads, an outwardly turned flange on each of said heads, a cylindrical shell surrounding said heads and in contact with said flanges, the end portions of said shell being bent around said flanges and in contact with the inner faces of said flanges, the flanges and shell being welded together in a plurality of zones, the curve of each shell on its outer surface being and one-half times the thickness of the metal and a tube connecting. the heads at the center thereof.

3. In a lawn roller, in combination, circuon a radius of about onelar heads, an outwardly turned flange on tion of the shell, and a tube connecting the heads at the center thereof,

4. In a lawn roller, in combination, circular heads, an outwardly turned flange on each of said heads, a cylindrical shell surrounding said heads, united to each of them by a welded joint in one zone, and supported by each of them in a zone different from that of said joint, whereby a considerable supporting and stiffening area is provided and a head supporting element connecting said heads at another place.

5. In a lawn roller, in combination, circulai' heads, an outwardly turned flange on each of said heads, a cylindrical shell surrounding said heads and in contact with each of said flanges over extended area therebetween, a welded zone between the two in this area, the end portion of said shell extending beyond said flanges, being bent around and under said flanges, to support the edges of the flanges and being welded at the edges to said flanges whereby a considerable supporting and stiffening area is provided.

6. In a lawn roller, in combination, circular heads, an outwardly turned flange on each of said heads, a cylindrical shell surrounding said heads and in contact with each of said flanges over extended area therebetween, a welded zone between the two in this area, the end portion of said shell extending beyond said flanges, being bent around and under said flanges, to support the edges of the flanges and being welded at the edges to said flanges, whereby a considerable supporting and stiflening area is provided and a. supporting tube extending -.through said heads and welded thereto.

7. In a metallic ivatentight lawn roller, in combination, circular heads of the same diameter, an outwardly turned flange on the edge of each of said heads and substantially at right angles thereto each flange being of substantially uniform width, a cylindrical shell of diameter corresponding to the flanges and contacting therewith over th outer surfaces of said flanges, extending beyond said flanges, bent back around and under the outwardly extending flanges for a distance to support the edges of said flanges,

being welded to the edges of said flanges,

whereby each flange is held on its outer surface, its edge and its inner surface, by said cylinder, in a rounded edge, and means whereby said cylinder may be drawn or trundled.

Signed by me, this 14th day of June, 1915.

. GEORGE E. KARL. Attested by J. W. DUNI-IAM. 

